Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-08-18
A PartyDilemma.

Regarding the Republican platform
the Philadelphia Record says:
Nothing more clearly demonstrates
the dilemma into which the Republicans
have been driven on the revenue ques-
tion than the resolutions Of their Ohio
platform. With the prospect OF a Treas
ury surplus Of 100000, 900 before the
close Of the current fiscal year unless the
revenue shall be reduced, the Ohio Re-
publicans, guided by the craftsmanship
of Senator Sherman, have nothing bet
ter to propose than abolition Ofthe in
ternal tax upon American growth to-
bacco" The internal revenue from to-
bacco does not amount to more than
SIS, 900, 900. Upon what sources or rev.
enue must the reduction next to be
made in order to bring the receipts OF
the treasury within the expenditures OF
an economical administration OF gov
ernment? Senator Sherman at his ONO
Convention could not be persuaded to
face question which is so important to
the financial interest of the country.
Some of the Republican politicians OF
Ohio had declared themselves in
favor of..a'repeal of the internal taxes
on whiskey as we'll as on tobacco, but
when confronted with the Democratic
platform Of Ohio, declaring against a
repeal of the whiskey tax, the Repub-
lican Convention did not dare to face
this issue before the people, and accord
ingly took refuge In silence. JThey could
90 no further this time than to demand
arepeal of the voluntary fiscal on smoke
as a means of obstructing tariff reform,
leaving the internal tax on drink to fu-
ture party contingencies. at.
1t is evident that the Ohio Republic
cans are looking to all extravagant sys-
tenn of public expedenture as the only
means of escape from the dilemma
caused by the enormous Treasury sur
plus. In the same resolution which pro-
poses the repeal of the tobacco tax rs
the sole measure of revenue reduction
the demand is made for more pension
bills, for improvements of national
highways andfor national aid to educa-
ton. This means another INDECENT pen
sion job, more millions wasted in alleged
s. river and harbor improvements, and the
Blair'educational scheme. These devices
of extravaganza and waste 1t is hoped
by the Republican leaders of Ohio, will
so completely drain the Treasury as to
preclude all possibility of reducing tax
6S OH raw maIeEld1S anu dTIlCleS VI ne
cessity. In fact, the Republican plat
form makers of Ohio intimate that if
this programme of public plunder
should succeed there would be no oc.
casion for repeating the taxes on tobac'
co, much less for any interference with
the beneficiaries of tariff robbery.
Upon the burning question of tax re-
duction the issue between the two par
ties in Ohio could be clearly defined
The Democrats, discarding timid and
unwise counsels, have couragely de-
clared for a reform of the tariff; and,
that this policy may not be balked, they
denounce any attempt to repeal the in
ternal taxes on whiskey. The Republi.
cans, on the other hand oppose any re-
vision of the tariff, and demand a repeal
of the fiscal taxes on smoke and the
expenditure of large sums of public
money as the effectual means of defeat
ing any reduction of taxation upon the
raw materials Of industry and the ne
cessities of living. The tax payers Of
Ohio ought to have no difficulty in solv-
ing this issue at the ballot-box in ac
cordance with their true interests.